Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Movie Review: Red Sparrow


When I first saw the trailers to "Red Sparrow" I couldn't help but feel that the film had too much "Black Widow" feels in it. Russian agents going through merciless and brutal training, being taught to use their minds and bodies to seduce and manipulate is nothing new and Jennifer Lawrence speaking in a fake Russian accent didn't really get me excited either. 

However, as I was sitting in the theater, I was quickly drawn in the thrilling game of cat and mouse, where good old espionage, double agents and double crosses will keep you thinking and guessing and at the edge of your seat. 

There are no fancy cars or fancy gadgets to get you out of difficult situations, its all quick thinking and using the resources that you have at your disposal. 

One of the things I enjoyed about the movie is that it takes you closer to the dark psychology which goes into being the ultimate secret weapon. I would have loved to have seen more chemistry between Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton (who plays 'the handsome' CIA agent in the film). I was a little confused with some of the props used in the film though-it was hard to establish the timeline of the movie because of the diskettes in one part of the film and what looked like a smart phone in the other. 

No doubt JLaw gave another strong performance of both strength and vulnerability in such a damned character I was just really bothered with the accent and that she would break away from it in some dramatic scenes. I know, I know I'm just being a big nitpicker here 

6.5/10 - you may get lost in the heavy plot or forget the Russian names you are supposed to remember but if you can keep up with the game, then you will enjoy it for sure. Especially if you are a fan of Jennifer Lawrence. 

Director Francis Lawrence (Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Mockingjay Part I and Mockingjay Part II) reunites with his muse Jennifer Lawrence for a brutal game of deception and manipulation. Dominika Egorova is no James Bond, she is trapped in a dangerous espionage game but she will do what she must in order to survive. 


Monday, February 26, 2018

Movies: Rose Byrne, A Warm-Hearted Animal Lover In “Peter Rabbit”


Best known for her role as Ellen Parsons in TV’s Damages, which earned her one Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations, Rose Byrne now stars in Sony Pictures Animation's Peter Rabbit, the new family comedy based on Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters.

In Peter Rabbit, the mischievous and adventurous hero who has captivated generations of readers now takes on the starring role of his own contemporary comedy. In the film, Peter’s feud with Mr. Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) escalates to greater heights than ever before as their fight to gain control of McGregor’s coveted vegetable garden and the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover, Bea, who lives next door (Rose Byrne) extends to the Lake District and London.

McGregor’s next-door neighbor, Bea, has given up the city life to move to a small cottage to attempt to prove herself as a painter. She feels isolated, save for a set of diminutive, furry friends: the rabbits. Peter is her favorite, and she is his.

Movies: Saoirse Ronan, Funny And Heartbreaking In “Lady Bird”


She earned Academy Award nominations for her exceptional performances in Atonement and Brooklyn.  Now, Saoirse Ronan is up for another Best Actress Oscar for Universal Pictures' Lady Bird which will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Greenebelt 1) starting February 28.

Directed by Greta Gerwig (herself nominated for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay), Lady Bird also stars Laurie Metcalf (Best Supporting Actress nominee), Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet.

In Lady Bird, Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter.  Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Letts) loses his job.

Movies: Director Discusses Bringing “Tomb Raider” Back To The Screen


Roar Uthaug, the Norwegian filmmaker who balanced intimate character work with enormous action set pieces in the Scandinavian films “The Wave” and “Escape” now directs “Tomb Raider,” the story that will set a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero.

“This is a more down-to-earth Lara Croft than we’ve seen before on film, which appealed to me,” he says.  Get a load of the director’s thoughts about “Tomb Raider” in the following interview. 

Question:  What was your overall vision for the film and the character of Lara Croft?

Roar Uthaug:  We’re doing a gritty and authentic take on “Tomb Raider” and creating a Lara who’s a badass but is also vulnerable and imperfect.  That makes her very relatable. 


As a gamer and fan of the Tomb Raider game, I really enjoyed directing the film, and it was a real pleasure working with Alicia Vikander.  At the same time, I’m very humbled by the responsibility of creating a new version of such an iconic character. 

Movies: Get To Know The Characters Of​ Disney's “A Wrinkle In Time”


Meet the cast and characters of Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, an epic adventure based on Madeleine L’Engle’s timeless classic which takes audiences across dimensions of time and space, examining the nature of darkness versus light and, ultimately, the triumph of love

Directed by Emmy-winner and Oscar and Golden Globe-nominee Ava DuVernay from a screenplay by Oscar winner Jennifer Lee, A Wrinkle in Time stars two-time Academy Award-nominee Oprah Winfrey, Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon, Emmy-nominee Mindy Kaling, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Peňa and introducing Storm Reid, with two-time Emmy winner Zach Galifianakis and Emmy nominee Chris Pine.


Meg Murry (Storm Reid) is a typical middle school student struggling with issues of self-worth who just wants to fit in. The 12-year-old daughter of two world-renowned physicists, Meg is intelligent and uniquely gifted but is stubborn, which has taken its toll on her studies and her relationships with faculty and fellow students. Making matters worse is the mysterious disappearance of her father, which has left Meg devastated. Under the guidance of three celestial beings who have journeyed to Earth, she embarks on an epic adventure with her brother and a classmate in search of Mr. Murry.

Sunday, February 25, 2018

Movies: The Murder Mystery Becomes Real In “Game Night”


In Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema's Game Night, an action comedy with wild adventures, Max (Jason Bateman) and his wife, Annie (Rachel McAdams), and their four friends, are all set for a murder mystery party, courtesy of Max’s brother, Brooks (Kyle Chandler).

Always looking to one-up his little bro, Brooks has promised the avid small-time gamers an epic night, far beyond their usual menu of charades, trivia and Pictionary. So, minutes later, when armed thugs break down the door and drag him away, bound and gagged, his guests are duly impressed by how realistic the fight seemed, how terrified Brooks had looked, and how menacing his assailants were. They can hardly believe it was all staged.

Maybe that’s because it wasn’t.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Movies: “Tomb Raider” Star Alicia Vikander Greets Philipppines


MANILA, February 23, 2018 – Warner Bros. Pictures has a special video of “Tomb Raider” star Alicia Vikander greeting the people of the Philippines as she opens up about her fascination with Lara Croft, the female-empowering hero of the beloved game, and now, the film reboot.

Check out the video at the following links and watch “Tomb Raider” in Philippine cinemas Thursday, March 8.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/vl.523788924643394/1981312565231608/?type=1

Movies: Psychological Zombie Thriller “The Cured” Opens February 28


In a post-zombie era fuming with rage and controlled by fear, “The Cured” takes us to a world where zombies and humans can co-exist, a world where zombies can be humans again.

First screened at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the film stars Academy Award nominee Ellen Page (Juno) who plays Abbie in this psychological zombie-thriller that is sure to make you question how you think of zombies and the steps people in the society will take to reintegrate them into the normal.

“The Cured” is set in Ireland after 75% of the zombie-turning Maze virus was cured, Senan (Sam Keeley) is one of the zombie-turned-human who is set out to rebuild his life after returning to life. Senan's sister-in-law Abbie (Page) is willing to give him a second chance. She lets him live with her and her young son despite the knowledge of Senan’s acts before the cure. But as an angry anti-cured movement burgeons in tandem with an increasingly radicalized pro-cured movement, Abbie is forced to question just how far her trust could go before it goes into oblivion.

Movies: Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie Lend Voices To Sisters Of “Peter Rabbit”


The Last Jedi herself, Daisy Ridley, Oscar Best Actress nominee Margot Robbie and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2's Elizabeth Debicki provide the voices of Peter Rabbit's triplet sisters in Sony Pictures Animation's new delightful comedy.

The film is based on the beloved books by Beatrix Potter whose “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” begins with the now famous words: “Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail, and Peter.”

The three sisters are as much part of the landscape of many childhoods as their brother is. As Peter Rabbit opens, their mother has passed away, and Peter is determined to be a responsible older sibling and caretaker to the trio. (At least, that’s his intention.)

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Netflix Releases Marvel’s Jessica Jones Franchise Trailer


Jessica is back and doing things her way.

In anticipation of the highly-awaited second season, Netflix released the franchise trailer for Marvel’s Jessica Jones. With flashes back to the first season, the trailer explores Jessica’s path to season two, while she shows everyone how to fight like a woman.

Marvel’s Jessica Jones returns for a second season on International Women’s Day, March 8, 2018, on Netflix

Watch the trailer here.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Movies: “Lady Bird” Contends For 5 Oscars, Opens In Ayala Malls Cinemas Feb 28


Vying for five major Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actress, Universal Pictures' Lady Bird will be shown exclusively at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Greenebelt 1) starting February 28.

Starring three-time Oscar-nominee Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird also stars Laurie Metcalf (Best Supporting Actress nominee for her performance in the film), Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges and Timothée Chalamet.

The film is written and directed by Greta Gerwig, and produced by Scott Rudin, Eli Bush and Evelyn O’Neill.

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Movies: Bruce Willis Takes Crime Fighting To The Extreme In “Death Wish”


Action icon Bruce Willis becomes mortal grim reaper in “Death Wish” as character’s his life is shattered when his wife was killed and left his daughter in a coma during a robbery attempt in their home.

In “Death Wish”, Dr. Paul Kersey (Bruce Willis) has it all: A beautiful family, a lovely home and an exciting and meaningful career as a surgeon in the emergency room of a bustling hospital. But when Kersey’s wife Lucy (Elisabeth Shue) is killed during a robbery attempt at their home and his daughter Jordan (Camila Morrone) is left in a coma after fighting back against the three attackers, he enters a world he never planned for. Emotionally shut down, Kersey leans on his brother Frank (Vincent D’Onofrio) for help, and on Detectives Raines and Jackson (Dean Norris and Kimberly Elise) for any updates on the arrests of the men who did this to his family.

As the police show Kersey a wall of unsolved cases and become resigned to the fact that his case will also go unsolved, something clicks in Kersey, a man who, as his brother Frank reminds him, used to be known for fighting back in the tough neighborhood they grew up in. Walking into a local gun shop, Kersey decides to arm himself. But his role in the world is saving lives, not taking them. No matter who is wheeled into his emergency room, to Kersey, they’re all patients in need of attention. How could he seek justice on such harsh terms? Yet as Kersey ventures into the night, he finds innocent people being preyed upon. When he foils a violent carjacking and a bystander’s cellphone footage of it goes viral, the media gives this unknown guardian angel a dark nickname: “The Grim Reaper.” As Paul Kersey gets closer to Knox (Beau Knapp) – the criminal who killed his wife – the city, unaware of this mysterious justiceseeker’s motives, wonders how it will end.

Movies: “Teen Titatns Go! To The Movies” Spoofs “Justice League” In Teaser Poster


Warner Bros. Pictures has just released a “Justice League” parody movie poster for “Teen Titans GO! to the Movies.” Check it out below and watch Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” in Philippine cinemas July 26.

“Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” finds our egocentric, wildly satirical Super Heroes in their first feature film extravaganza—a fresh, gleefully clever, kid-appropriately crass and tongue-in-cheek play on the superhero genre, complete with musical numbers.

It seems to the Teens that all the major superheroes out there are starring in their own movies—everyone but the Teen Titans, that is! But de facto leader Robin is determined to remedy the situation, and be seen as a star instead of a sidekick. If only they could get the hottest Hollywood film director to notice them. With a few madcap ideas and a song in their heart, the Teen Titans head to Tinsel Town, certain to pull off their dream. But when the group is radically misdirected by a seriously Super-Villain and his maniacal plan to take over the Earth, things really go awry. The team finds their friendship and their fighting spirit failing, putting the very fate of the Teen Titans themselves on the line!

Will Arnett (“The LEGO® Batman Movie”) and Kristen Bell (“Frozen”) lend their voices to the first-ever big-screen version of DC Entertainment and Cartoon Network’s animated TV show, which also stars Greg Cipes (TV’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) as Beast Boy, Scott Menville (TV’s “Spider-Man”) as Robin, Khary Payton (“The Walking Dead”) as Cyborg, Tara Strong (the “My Little Pony” franchise) as Raven, and Hynden Walch (TV’s “Adventure Time with Finn & Jake”) as Starfire, reprising their roles from the series.

The film is being directed by Aaron Horvath and Peter Rida Michail, from a screenplay by Michael Jelenic and Horvath, based on characters from DC. Michail, Will Arnett, Jed Weitzman, and Peggy Regan are producing, with Sam Register, Jelenic, and Horvath serving as executive producers. Apart from Arnett and Weitzman, all are “Teen Titans GO!” series contributors.

“Teen Titans GO! to the Movies” is distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Movies: James Corden ​Is ​Voice​ Of​ The Rascal, Rerbel “Peter Rabbit"


British comedian and talk show host James Corden (Into the Woods, The Late Late Show) brings a perfect balance of mischief and charm as the voice of the eponymous hero in Columbia Pictures' family adventure Peter Rabbit (in Philippine cinemas February 28).

In Peter Rabbit™, the mischievous and adventurous hero who has captivated generations of readers now takes on the starring role of his own contemporary comedy.

In the film, Peter’s feud with Mr. Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson) escalates to greater heights than ever before as their fight to gain control of McGregor’s coveted vegetable garden and the affections of the warm-hearted animal lover who lives next door (Rose Byrne) extends to the Lake District and London.

Movies: A Hero Prepares To Find Herself In “Tomb Raider”


From Warner Bros. Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures comes Tomb Raider starring Oscar-winner Alicia Vikander in the story that will set a young and resolute Lara Croft on a path toward becoming a global hero.

Lara Croft, its tomb-raiding archaeologist heroine, is known around the world and has been for the more than 20 years since her first video game became a global smash. The character is loved by gamers everywhere but is also recognizable to millions who have never even picked up a controller. In this new Tomb Raider big-screen adventure, Lara’s boldness remains from her previous videogame and film incarnations, but the filmmakers are working to bring us a side of Lara Croft that we have never experienced on the big screen – an icon who is just finding her feet.

That realistic vibe proved a draw for director Roar Uthaug, the Norwegian filmmaker who balanced intimate character work with enormous action set pieces in the Scandinavian films The Wave and Escape. “This is a more down-to-earth Lara Croft than we’ve seen before on film, which appealed to me,” he tells us.

Movies: "Black Panther" Breaks Record For Year's Biggest 1ST-Day Gross In PH


MANILA, Feb. 16, 2017 – Marvel Studios' Black Panther opened Wednesday, Feb 14 in the Philippines and scored the year's biggest first-day gross to-date with a staggering P45.10-M in box-office sales.

Comparatively, the Wakandan King outperformed the opening day numbers of recent Marvel titles, including 2015's Ant-Man (by 235%), 2014's Guardians of the Galaxy (by 183%), 2016's Doctor Strange (by 124%), 2014's Captain America: The Winter Solidier (by 63%) and last year's Thor: Ragnarok (by 41%).

Friday, February 16, 2018

Movie Review: Darkest Hour


I have always been a fan of history (its always been my favorite subject; aside from English in High School) I love reading about and watching documentaries on any particular time period. Which is probably why I will always be thankful that we don't live in a time of war and I will always pray that we (and my infant son) never have to do so. 

Different influential people who have changed history are kind of like the heroes and villains in the movies we enjoy watching today (of course we have to remember that it is the victor who writes history, so a little extra research is always helpful plus with the prevalence of fake news on social media, we have to be extra, extra careful). One of our favorite historical figures has always been Winston Churchill. So just imagine our excitement when we found out that one of our all time favorite actors (the great) Gary Oldman will be playing Churchill?! 

We already knew that Gary Oldman would do an exceptional performance as Churchill, (as evidenced by his many nominations and wins for the role) what gave me more reasons to love the film was the excellent writing and beautiful cinematography in the film.   


You wold think that just because its a war/historical movie that it would be all talk and dialogue but the script is written in such a way that is witty and funny and keeps you awake. The transition of scenes, even using wide bird's eye view landscapes keeps the movie even more interesting.

The film tells the story of the early days of Churchill as Prime Minister of and as Nazi Germany is sweeping through Europe, bringing the threat of war closer and closer to home and how he finds the strength to fight in the war and to not surrender, despite the many different pressures around him. 


A history lesson, worth learning "Darkest Hour" takes you inside the intense Bristish war council of WWII to the intimate confines of an occupied water closet; to the horrors of a doomed garrison. It shows you the strength it takes to make the most difficult decisions in the darkest hours and at the most bleak of times.

Gary Oldman is Winston Churchill, in his best work yet, his transformation and performance is so complete that you will forget you are watching an actor.A film which brings back the power to the people, "Darkest Hour" is a reminder that inspirational leadership can and does change history. 

#DarkestHour is showing in Ayala Malls Cinemas on Feb.14.

Movies: Doug Jones Takes On The Shape Of Sexy Male Amphibian In Award-Winning “The Shape Of Water”


Doug Jones has made a career out of playing monsters, ghouls and creatures of myth. The former contortionist is a legend in sci-fi, fantasy and horror circles for his unique ability to morph into roles as diverse as the Thin Clown in “Batman Returns,” Joey in “Men in Black 2” and the Silver Surfer in “Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer.” He recently played a series regular on “Star Trek: Discovery,” as the alien being Lt. Saru.

He’s best known for his collaborations with Guillermo del Toro, which started in 1997 with “Mimic,” and continued with roles in “Hellboy” and “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” as Abe Sapien; “Pan’s Labyrinth,” as The Faun and The Pale Man; and most recently “The Strain” and “Crimson Peak.”

But their latest work together on “The Shape of Water” might be definitive. Jones’ amphibian creature is both the love interest and one of the principal leads of del Toro’s film, and it requires every tool in Jones’ arsenal to realise.   Set in the height of the Cold War and during the space race, “The Shape of Water” brings its audience into a mysterious government facility in Baltimore where, in the deepest recesses of the lab, an amphibious creature (Jones) is being studied for its unusual abilities. As Strickland (Michael Shannon), in charge of security, demands for it to be killed and autopsied, Dr. Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) insists that the creature’s secrets can only be revealed with a lighter touch.

Movies: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” Is A Must-See Film

Before This Year’s Academy Awards – Now In Select Cinemas In Philippines

Frances McDormand & Peter Dinklage
A last stand erupts in director Martin McDonagh’s trip into small town America in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” as a mother is pushed to the edge by her daughter’s unsolved murder.  The film is the third from Martin McDonagh, the Irish playwright, screenwriter and director known for the hit thriller “In Bruges,” with its Oscar® nominated and BAFTA winning Screenplay, and the crime comedy “Seven Psychopaths.” 

At the core of the movie is Mildred’s conflict with Ebbing’s Chief of Police.  “The story is a war between two people who are both to some degree in the right,” McDonagh notes, “and that’s where so much of the tension and drama arises.”  Those tensions become the exploration for what happens when rage can’t be calmed.  As the tension mounts, the film delves into themes of division, anger and moral reckoning. 

Playing Mildred Hayes, who sets the events of THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI in motion, is Frances McDormand.  McDormand made her film debut in the Coen Brothers’ noir classic BLOOD SIMPLE and has gone on to a career that includes garnering the Triple Crown of Tony, Emmy and Oscar® awards.  With the character, McDormand explored a tradition long reserved for men:  the lone hero who defiantly stands off against a town.

Movies: Jennifer Lawrence In Hotly-Anticipated R-Rated Spy Movie “Red Sparrow”


Jennifer Lawrence gives the spy genre a whole new spin as she stars in her most badass, highly-sensual and R-rated movie “Red Sparrow” that will open February 28 in cinemas (rated R-16 in PH). 

Directed by Francis Lawrence (who also directed Jennifer Lawrence in the worldwide box-office “Hunger Games” films), “Red Sparrow” is based on the novel of Jason Matthews, a former CIA operative that also stars Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling, Joely Richardson, Mary-Louise Parker and Jeremy Irons.

“Red Sparrow” trails the journey of prima ballerina Dominika Egorova     (Lawrence) as she faces a bleak and uncertain future after she suffers an injury that ends her career. She soon turns to Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people to use their minds and bodies as weapons. In the Sparrow School, the trainees undergo a merciless program that turns them into intelligent killing machines. Egorova soon emerges as the most dangerous Sparrow after completing the sadistic training process. As she comes to terms with her new abilities, Dominika meets CIA agent Nathaniel Nash (Joel Edgerton) who tries to convince her that he is the only person she can trust.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Movies: Steven Spielberg Celebrates Press Freedom With “The Post”


Variety raves that Steven Spielberg's The Post, “Pulses ahead like a detective yarn for news junkies, one that crackles with present-day parallels.”

USA Today declares, “The Post is an inspirational reminder of the importance of a free press while unabashedly making journalism look like the most awesome job ever.”

And Rolling Stone praises, “Spielberg's tense, terrific new drama, with Streep and Hanks at their finest, celebrates the passionate bond between a free press and every thinking human being.”

Movies: “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” Featurette Proves Its Stunts Are Real


Paramount Pictures has released a new behind-the-scenes featurette for Mission: Impossible – Fallout that dives deep into the film’s centerpiece action sequence, the helicopter stunt.

Check out the featurette at https://youtu.be/jfFFi3s2Ut0 and watch Mission: Impossible – Fallout in Philippine cinemas July 25.

Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Ving Rhames, Sean Harris, Angela Bassett, Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Alec Baldwin, Wes Bentley, and Frederick Schmidt star in MissionImpossible – Fallout. Filmmaker Christopher McQuarrie returns to the helm.

The best intentions often come back to haunt you. Mission: Impossible – Fallout finds Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his IMF team (Alec Baldwin, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames) along with some familiar allies (Rebecca Ferguson, Michelle Monaghan) in a race against time after a mission gone wrong.


Mission: Impossible - Fallout is distributed in the Philippines by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/

Movies: Alpha Predators Go On A “Rampage” In New Trailer


Get ramped up – this is as big as it gets! Watch the new official trailer of New Line Cinemas' “Rampage” starring global megastar Dwayne Johnson.

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/vl.1008348149303704/1971396202889911/?type=1

YouTube : https://youtu.be/wLp0UKxsFL4

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Movies: Domhnall Gleeson Meets His Match In “Peter Rabbit”


British actor Domhnall Gleeson stars as the fussy landlord Thomas McGregor in Sony Pictures Animation's Peter Rabbit, the new family comedy which brings all of the audience-favorite Beatrix Potter characters to the screen in a brand-new, modern adventure.

In the film, Thomas McGregor has risen through the ranks of London’s famed department store Harrods, working diligently – some might say obsessively – towards the post of Associate General Manager, only to find that the position has gone to a man who doesn't deserve it. When he inherits the McGregor manor (and its attached vegetable garden), Thomas sees a chance to sell it in order to finance his own toy shop.

Movies: “A Quiet Place” Raises Up The Terror In New Trailer


Those who have survived, live by one rule. Never make a sound. Watch the new trailer for Paramount Pictures' A Quiet Place starring Emily Blunt and John Krasinski.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/videos/1900527436688314/

YouTube: https://youtu.be/3cm5ufO46Ks

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Movie Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri


One of the things I loved about "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (and there are a lot ) is that you never really know what direction the story is going. It has that unique "tragic comedy" element which is both unexpected and endearing at the same time. 

Frances McDormand's award winning performance (which is already reason enough to see the film, although there are more) of a grieving, in search of justice for her daughter who was brutally killed and raped, becomes frustrated that there have been no arrests and takes matters into her own hands by renting three billboards with this sequence of messages: 

"RAPED WHILE DYING", "AND STILL NO ARRESTS?", and "HOW COME, CHIEF WILLOUGHBY?" 

The small town is immediately against Mildred (McDormand) as they choose to rally behind and support the local Chief, Bill Willoughby (played by Woody Harrelson) who is also suffering from terminal pancreatic cancer. 

What follows is a mix of tragic and comedic exchanges between Mildred and the people around her, particularly racist officer Jason Dixon (also an award winning performance from Sam Rockwell) who confronts Mildred and harasses her friends. 



With the effective use of dark comedy and powerful performances from its veteran cast, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is a beautiful and powerful film about a small town who is forced to come together amid a grieving mother's struggle to find justice for her daughter, which during the course of the film turns into healing and acceptance through the most hilarious and shocking circumstances. 

With powerful performances from its stellar cast, led by the tough and grieving Mildred (Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell is also a winner!) "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" won't go the way you think it would and that keeps it interesting and in turn would keep you guessing throughout. Shoutout to Peter Dinklage who is hilarious in the film! 


10/10 a film filmed with lessons on life and how sometimes it does take a village to get things done, in this case, find peace, forgiveness and acceptance.   

This Oscar contender opens on Feb.14 in the following cinemas: Eastwood, Shangri-la Mass, Century City Mall, Commerce Mall, Festival Mall, Fisher Mall, Gateway Mall, Fora in Tagaytay and at Vista Cinemas: Evia, Las Pinas, Sta. Rosa, Bataan, Pampanga and Daang Hari. 

Movies: Bruce Willis Turns Deadly Avenger In “Death Wish”


Bruce Willis stars in his latest action-packed movie where fury and fate will collide in “Death Wish”, based on Brian Garfield’s novel.

A must-see with a new twist from the original film, “Death Wish” trails the brutal reality of Willis’ character as Dr. Paul Kersey, a surgeon who only sees the the aftermath of Chicago violence as it’s rushed into his ER – until his wife (Elisabeth Shue) and college-age daughter (Camila Morrone) are viciously attacked in their suburban home.  With the police overloaded with crimes, Paul, burning for revenge, hunts for his family’s assailants to deliver justice.  As the anonymous slayings of criminals grabs the media’s attention, the city wonders if this deadly avenger is a guardian angel or a grim reaper.


“Death Wish” opens March 1 in cinemas nationwide from OctoArts Films International.  Trailer link - https://www.facebook.com/octoartsfilms.international/videos/1637122439702033/

Monday, February 12, 2018

Movies: Boseman, Jordan, Nyong'O Lead "Black Panther's" Phenomenal Cast


The filmmakers of Marvel's Black Panther gathered an enviable ensemble of pedigreed cast, led by Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa/Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger and Lupita Nyong'o as

Producer Kevin Feige comments, "It's great to be able to delve into the world of Wakanda, see Black Panther's lineage and heritage and meet these amazing, rich characters that surround him. To bring them to life, we put together a phenomenal cast. They are among the best that we've ever assembled."

Chadwick Boseman: Prince T'Challa is primed to become the new King of Wakanda. Mourning the loss of his father, T'Challa's claim to the throne is waylaid when villains outside the country pull him out of Wakanda and lead him on an adventure that spans the globe. Pushed to the limit and burdened with the fate of a nation, T'Challa must prevail by any means necessary or risk the lives of millions of Wakandans.

Movies: Lily James Showcases Dramatic Prowess In “Darkest Hour”


Hot off the box-office and critical success of Baby Driver, British actress Lily James now stars in Focus Features' Oscar-nominated historical drama Darkest Hour (exclusive at Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma, Greenbelt 1) starting February 14.)

Directed by Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice) and starring Oscar Best Actor nominee Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour is the dramatic and inspiring story of four weeks in 1940 during which Winston Churchill’s courage to lead changed the course of world history.

Responding to what she saw as a “powerful story of [British] history, of everyone’s history, that we should remember and reflect on,” James joined the Darkest Hour troupe to portray the character of Elizabeth Layton, Churchill’s personal secretary.

Movies: An Enthralling Escape To Fantasy In “The Shape Of Water” On February 21 NAationwide


“The Shape of Water” brings its audience into a mysterious government facility in Baltimore where, in the deepest recesses of the lab, an amphibious creature (played by Doug Jones) is being studied for its unusual abilities. As Agent Strickland (Michael Shannon) demands for it to be killed and autopsied, Dr. Hoffstetler (Michael Stuhlbarg) insists that the creature’s secrets can only be revealed with a lighter touch.

But it’s the facility’s quietest employee who realises the truest connection to the creature. Mute cleaner Elisa (Sally Hawkins) feels a strange affinity with this mysterious visitor from the deep. And as the men in charge prevaricate, she resolves to release the creature from its captors, with the aid of her colleague Zelda (Octavia Spencer) and her next door neighbour Giles (Richard Jenkins).

The movie is directed by award winning director Guillermo Del Toro who is best renowned for his three inspired Spanish-language films that reinvent and upend the very notion of genre:  the multiple Oscar®-winning “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Cronos,” and “The Devil’s Backbone.”  Each is a vivid phantasmagoria navigating the moral and physical dangers of a world of corruption, authoritarianism and war.  His supernatural action epics are equally as inventive – “Blade II,” the “Hellboy” series, and “Pacific Rim,” as well as his gothic romance “Crimson Peak.”

Movies: Acclaimed “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” Opens This February 14


For the love of her daughter, a mother takes action into her own hands to help solve the murder of her daughter in this year’s highly-anticipated award-winning film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”.

An entertaining dramedy featuring an extremely talented cast as Frances McDormand in the lead role, along with Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Abbie Cornish, Lucas Hedges, John Hawkes and Peter Dinklage, “Three Billboards Outside, Ebbing Missouri” all begins with Mildred Hayes (McDormand) and the three billboards she rents on Drinkwater Road.  Mildred is an aggrieved mother who is strong, determined and raging, yet also broken inside because of what happened to her daughter.   A last stand erupts between Mildred and the small town’s Chief of Police, Bill Willoughby (Harrelson) has failed to solve the murder and left her with no solace.  But the more one gets to know Chief Willoughby, the more it becomes clear that the man Mildred is going to war with is already fighting a private battle.

Directed by Academy Award® winner Martin McDonagh (In Bruges), relates that McDonagh’s greatest challenge was balancing the dark comedy of the story with Mildred’s emotion-driven quest.  He trusted that the humor would be there, black and biting, even as he allowed his characters to reel with anguish over loss, unfairness and the resistance to change. “What’s happened to Mildred’s daughter is so sad and horrific, I felt the most important thing was to keep a rein on the comedy, even on the blackness, and make sure Mildred’s struggle against the hopelessness of the situation maintained itself all the way through, tone wise,” McDonagh says.

Movies: Teenage Girl Finally Meets Her Soulmate In “Every Day”


Exploring the universal themes of true love, identity and coming of age, the upcoming charming movie “Every Day” reflects very contemporary ideas about acceptance and the freedom to be whoever you are – an idea very resonant in today’s young people who increasingly reject categorization.

The movie follows a teenage entity named only A, who wakes up every day in a different body, Every Day deals with the challenges faced when A falls head over heels in love with Rhiannon (Angourie Rice), a girl unlike anyone they’ve ever met. Can you have a relationship with a soul who inhabits a different body every day – sometimes boy, sometimes girl, sometimes the school quarterback, sometimes the outcast? Who are you removed of your body, your race, your clothes, your family? The story is the actualization of the old adage that we should ‘love someone for who they are on the inside,’ all the more powerful because it is set during the teenage years when we customarily try on and experiment with myriad external identities in an effort to figure out we are.

Movies: "Black Panther" Holds Advanced Screenings Feb 13, 7PM Onwards


MANILA, Feb. 9, 2017 – The King arrives earlier than you think!

Due to popular demand, Marvel Studios' Black Panther will have advanced screenings on Tuesday, February 13 starting at 7:00PM onwards in cinemas nationwide – one day before its grand opening Feb. 14.

Fans are advised to check with their favorite cinemas for exact screening hours. Tickets will be at regular admission prices.

Sunday, February 11, 2018

Movies: Marvel Studios Kicks Off The Marvel Cinematc Universe 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

Iconic "Class Photo" Unveiled Featuring Talent & Filmmakers

From The Last Decade Of Marvel Studios' Films




BURBANK, Calif. (February 8, 2018)—Today Marvel Studios kicks off the year-long Marvel Cinematic Universe 10-Year anniversary celebration with an iconic class photo featuring talent and filmmakers from over the last ten years.

On October 7th, 2017 a group of more than 80 actors and filmmakers all came together in secret in Atlanta, Georgia, on the set of Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Infinity War” to memorialize the last ten years with a photo and to celebrate the accomplishments of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=GjwjzIFcX7U

An impressive group of Super Hero talent assembled, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Paul Rudd, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chris Pratt, Chadwick Boseman, Brie Larson,  Jeremy Renner, Tom Holland,  Sean Gunn, Hannah John-Kamen, Zoe Saldana, Angela Bassett, Jon Favreau, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kurt Russell, Danai Gurira, William Hurt, Karen Gillan, Emily VanCamp, Tessa Thompson, Don Cheadle, Dave Bautista, Michael Peña, Anthony Mackie, Evangeline Lilly, Elizabeth Olsen,  Paul Bettany, Frank Grillo, Letitia Wright, Laurence Fishburne, Linda Cardellini, Sebastian Stan, Ty Simpkins, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Hayley Atwell, Pom Klementieff, Benedict Wong, Michael Rooker, Vin Diesel, Cobie Smulders, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeff Goldblum.

Filmmakers from the past 10 years of MCU film joined the festivities, including Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Stan Lee, Scott Derrickson, Trinh Tran, Alan Taylor, Brad Winderbaum, Louis Letterier, Jon Watts, Sarah Finn, James Gunn, Joe Russo, Anthony Russo, Joss Whedon, David Grant, Mitchell Bell, Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck, Jeffrey Ford, Peyton Reed, Jonathan Schwartz, Stephen Broussard, Ryan Coogler, Jeremy Latcham, Nate Moore, Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely, Taika Waititi, Erik Carroll, Ryan Meinerding and Craig Kyle.

Marvel Studios’ 10th anniversary begins with the release of “Avengers: Infinity War” and covers an impressive decade of Marvel Studios’ blockbusters released from 2008 through the “Avengers” untitled film in 2019. In celebration of the anniversary, fans can expect exclusive consumer products and collectibles, along with in-theater events and much more in the coming months.


Marvel Studios’ unprecedented success over the last ten years is reflected in its cumulative box-office receipts of over $13.5 billion worldwide. Legions of fans—both old and new—have enjoyed the live-action exploits of favorite Marvel Super Heroes in films that express the unique vision and creativity of the filmmakers, and deliver spectacle and thrilling action with relatable characters.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Movies: Jamie Dornan Liberates Christian Grey In “Fifty Shades Freed”


BAFTA-nominated Irish actor Jamie Dornan portrays the tormented billionaire Christian Grey in Universal Pictures' explosive erotic thriller Fifty Shades Freed (now playing in Philippine cinemas).

The climactic chapter based on the worldwide bestselling Fifty Shades phenomenon, Freed brings to a shocking conclusion events set in motion in 2015 and 2017’s blockbuster films that grossed almost $950 million globally.

In Fifty Shades Freed, believing they have left behind shadowy figures from their past, newlyweds Christian (Dornan) and Anastasia (Dakota Johnson) fully embrace an inextricable connection and shared life of luxury. But just as she steps into her role as Mrs. Grey and he relaxes into an unfamiliar stability, new threats could jeopardize their happy ending before it even begins.

Movies: “Venom” Unleashes Its Demons In Teaser Trailer


“We all have our...demons.”

One of Marvel’s most enigmatic, complex and badass characters comes to the big screen, starring Academy Award® nominated actor Tom Hardy as the lethal protector Venom.

Check out Venom's newly released teaser trailer at https://youtu.be/5-wT3QveuwY and watch the action-thriller in Philippine cinemas October 5.

Directed by Ruben Fleischer from a script by Scott Rosenberg & Jeff Pinkner and Kelly Marcel and Will Beal, Venom also stars Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze and Reid Scott.


Venom is distributed in the Philippines by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

Movies: Beloved Children's Book “Peter Rabbit” Hops To The Big Screen


“When I was a kid, my dad read me the Peter Rabbit books, so I always had an emotional tie to him – and when I had kids, I read the books to them,” says Will Gluck, the co-writer/director of the famous bunny’s first big screen adventure, Peter Rabbit. “The thing I love most is that Peter is a little mischief-maker. I thought it was a great opportunity to take that little nugget, what Beatrix Potter gave Peter, expand that personality trait and make it our own contemporary story.”

In the film, Peter’s war with Old Mr. McGregor, keeper of the vegetable garden, takes a turn when the old man kicks the bucket (a victory Peter is all too happy to claim for himself). But when his great-nephew, Mr. Thomas McGregor (Domhnall Gleeson), inherits the place, Peter realizes that the battle for control of the vegetable garden – and the heart of their next-door neighbor, Bea (Rose Byrne) – has only just begun. To help, Peter is enlisting his family and friends – sisters Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cotton-tail, cousin Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck, Mr. Jeremy Fisher, Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and other characters author and illustrator Beatrix Potter created in her original tales.

And because Peter Rabbit is so beloved, especially throughout the British Commonwealth, Gluck was able to attract an all-star cast to bring these famous characters to life: James Corden as Peter, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki, and Daisy Ridley as the triplets, Grammy winner Sia as Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, and David Wenham as Johnny Town-Mouse.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Movies: Production Starts On New Line Cinema's Magical Super Hero Action Adventure “Shazam!”

David F. Sandberg helms the ensemble, with Zachary Levi in the title role and Asher Angel starring as his young counterpart


Production is underway on New Line Cinema’s “Shazam!” David F. Sandberg (“Annabelle: Creation”) directs the origin story, which stars Zachary Levi (TV’s “Chuck”) as the titular DC Super Hero, along with Asher Angel (TV’s “Andi Mack”) as Billy Batson, and Mark Strong (the “Kingsman” movies) in the role of Super-Villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana. Peter Safran (upcoming “Aquaman,” “The Conjuring” and “Annabelle” films) serves as the film’s producer.


We all have a superhero inside us, it just takes a bit of magic to bring it out. In Billy Batson’s (Angel) case, by shouting out one word—SHAZAM!—this streetwise 14-year-old foster kid can turn into the adult Super Hero Shazam (Levi), courtesy of an ancient wizard. Still a kid at heart—inside a ripped, godlike body—Shazam revels in this adult version of himself by doing what any teen would do with superpowers: have fun with them! Can he fly? Does he have X-ray vision? Can he shoot lightning out of his hands? Can he skip his social studies test? Shazam sets out to test the limits of his abilities with the joyful recklessness of a child. But he’ll need to master these powers quickly in order to fight the deadly forces of evil controlled by Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Strong).


“Shazam!” also stars Jack Dylan Grazer (“IT”) as Billy’s best friend and ultimate superhero enthusiast, Freddy, part of the foster family that includes Mary, played by Grace Fulton (“Annabelle: Creation”); Darla, played by Faithe Herman (TV’s “This is Us”); Eugene, played by Ian Chen (TV’s “Fresh Off the Boat”); and Pedro, played by Jovan Armand (TV’s “Hawaii Five-O”). Cooper Andrews (TV’s “The Walking Dead”) and Marta Milans (TV’s “Killer Women”) play foster parents Victor and Rosa Vasquez, with Ron Cephas Jones (“This is Us”) as the Wizard.

Christopher Godsick, Jeffrey Chernov, Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia are serving as executive producers.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Movie Review: I, Tonya


"I, Tonya" is essentially a tragic comedy, which brings its audiences front row to what is considered to be, one of the most scathing scandal of American sports history. Its colorful cast of crazy characters, led by powerful performances from Margot Robbie and Allison Janney will have you laughing at them and feeling sorry for them at the same time.  All those nominations for Robbie and Janney? Totally worth it and Allison Janney taking home accolades left and right? Not surprising. 

We get introduced to Margot Robbie in 2016's "Suicide Squad" as the equally crazy and colorful Harley Quinn, well her performance as a struggling figure skater with domestic abuse and mommy issues will have you impressed and we haven't even talked about the hard work she obviously did, in order to train and learn how to skate. Those ice skating sequences are so intense, you will find yourself at the edge of your seat and holding your breath. 

A bold sports biopic, unlike any other, the story (live your truth) is told in a refreshing 'mockumentary' style, interviewing the people surrounding the rise and fall of retired figure skater Tonya Harding who became famous for her renegade skating and later, infamous for her alleged involvement on the attack against her Olympic rival Nancy Kerrigan. The telling of the story (at least from the Harding camp) is so entertaining that they even push the envelope by breaking the fourth wall, with the characters speaking to the audiences themselves, cementing this "he said/she said" skating scandal further into the tragedies of urban legends and sports scandals. 


In the film, Tonya Harding (Margot Robbie) is abused in so many ways throughout her life. Her tough as nails mom, LaVona Fay Golden (Allison Janney) pushes her as a young child to become the best skater, even pulling her out of school so she can focus on her skating career. 

While Tonya becomes an excellent figure skater, she can't seem to get the favor of  judges in competitions, due to her "white trash" reputation and overall attitude on the skating rink. 

She meets Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan -who knew the Winter Soldier can do more than dead pan, assassin?) whom she marries, despite of (or probably because of) her mother's disapproval. The cycle of abuse continues as Jeff beats Tonya relentlessly but she still keeps on coming back to him. Back on the ice, Tonya has a chance to compete in the 1994 Winter Olympics but things go up in flames as a series of unfortunate events leaves the aspiring figure skater with her dreams of love, fame and success up in smoke.  




I have to talk  about the beautiful music curated for the film, from the 70's, the music geek in me was very much pleased. En Vogue's "Free Your Mind" and Heart's "Barracuda" are a true reflection of Tonya's fierceness and no-apologies attitude. 

ZZ Top's "Sleeping Bag" which was even used by Tonya Harding in one of her routines, rightfully makes its way to the soundtrack.  

Fleetwood Mac's "The Chain" is always a welcome track to enjoy as well. 

There is a powerful scene in the movie for me where Tonya talks to the audience and essentially tells them that "you abused me" for every judgement, every time you found entertainment and joy in my sorry, "you hit me". It was such a powerful monologue for me and I couldn't help but feel, yes sorry for her and guilty at the same time. 

You can tell that all she ever wanted was to be loved and in a life filled with abuse, she probably confused love with fame and unfortunately in a society hungry for the latest pearl-grabbing scandal, love and fame oftentimes becomes blurred, as this tragic comedy shows us. 

8.5 out of 10 - "I, Tonya" uses comedy to tell a tragic tale, you will laugh and you will be entertained but you will also feel the pain of love lost and dreams shattered. It is not a Cinderella story, on the contrary Cinderella is still in her ragged clothes, sweeping dirt and soot. 

Movies: “The 15:17 To Paris” Unreels “Living It Twice” Featurette


Go behind-the-scenes of Warner Bros.' patriotic thriller “The 15:17 to Paris” with the featurette, “Living it Twice.”

The video features the real heroes playing themselves in the film, talking about being cast, experiencing the events and re-telling the story in a Clint Eastwood movie.

Catch the “Living It Twice” featurette in the links below and watch “The 15:17 to Paris” in Ayala Malls Cinemas (Trinoma & Greenbelt 1) starting Feb 21.

FACEBOOK : https://business.facebook.com/warnerbrosphils/videos/1955442504485281/

YOU TUBE : https://youtu.be/MfLeX8NdFVY

Clint Eastwood’s drama “The 15:17 to Paris,” about the real-life heroes who derailed a terrorist attack during a highspeed train ride.

Movies: Tom Hanks Exposes The Truth In Real-Life Thriller “The Post”


Back-to-back Oscar Best Actor Tom Hanks stars in Universal Pictures' The Post as Ben Bradlee, the quintessential, no-nonsense newsman—hard-charging, tenacious and fiercely independent.

Marking their historic, first-ever on-screen collaboration, Steven Spielberg directs Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks in The Post, a thrilling drama about the unlikely partnership between The Washington Post’s Katharine Graham (Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, and editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks), as they race to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spanned three decades and four U.S. Presidents. The two must overcome their differences as they risk their careers – and their very freedom – to help bring long-buried truths to light.

For Tom Hanks, who is also a writer, exploring the full complexity of Bradlee’s world was up there with his most gratifying challenges. He dove into research, going to personal sources as much as he could. “There's a lot of information on Ben Bradlee out there, not the least of which comes from his autobiography,” notes Hanks. “There’s tons of interview footage, but most importantly there are dozens of people who worked with him who I was able to talk to, including his wife Sally Quinn. We talked about who he was, why she loved him and what he was giving himself over to at The Post. Eventually I found and heard so much material on Ben that I was actually frustrated because I couldn’t put it all in the movie.”

Movies: First “Skyscraper” Trailer Sets The Screen On Fire


Courage has no limits. Watch action superstar Dwayne Johnson on a death-defying mission in the first trailer of Universal Pictures' action-thriller Skyscraper (in Philippine cinemas July 11).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uipmoviesph/videos/1889754777765580/

Youtube: https://youtu.be/4XKONhaHkwA

Movies: Best Actress Nominee Sally Hawkins In A Love Affair Beyond Words In “The Shape Of Water”


Acclaimed filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro, known for his hit feature films “Hellboy” and “Pacific Rim” brings a new world far beyond one’s imagination in “The Shape of Water”, composed of a stellar cast that includes Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones and Michael Stuhlbarg.

“The Shape of Water” is a fairy tale set in the Cold War era that sees the journey of Elisa (Hawkins), a mute janitress in a highly-secured government facility who connected and fell in love with a marine creature (Jones).  From Elisa’s loneliness and powerlessness, she soon becomes a heroine who takes huge risks, made all the more extraordinary because the role is almost without words.  Rendered mute by a childhood trauma, Elisa communicates in American Sign Language (ASL), but she is able to express herself effusively when she encounters the strange aquatic creature being warehoused in the government lab where she works as a cleaning lady.  Elisa sees none of the creature’s oddities when she sets eyes on the iridescent beauty in chains – to her, he is sheer loneliness and that makes him instantly worthy of her attention.

Elisa’s rich and brave interior world comes to life via a luminous performance from Academy Award® nominee Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky, Blue Jasmine) that propels the story forward at every turn.  Hawkins knew instantly there has never been and will never be a role quite like Elisa.  “It’s so rare that you get a role that asks you to put it all out there.  Where it’s about unadulterated expression and words are not needed, and you have the freedom to express so much through your eyes, breath and body. That is Elisa.”